DROGHEDA'S old defensive deficiencies returned to haunt them at Hunky Dorys Park last Friday as Sligo took their tally against the Boynesiders this season to 11 goals. A few tactical tweaks since Darius Kierans took charge had brought a significant improvement in the Drogs' goals against record, after they conceded three or more on seven occasions under Alan Mathews. Indeed, this was the first time under Kierans that Drogheda had leaked three in one game, but a few more inept displays such as this would be a severe blow to the claret and blues' hopes of avoiding the relegation play-offs or worse.

In fairness, the back four themselves were relatively solid over the 90 minutes, despite the presence in their ranks of Eric McGill and Michael Daly who normally play further up the pitch.

However, goalkeeper Paul Skinner had a night he would rather forget, while he and his defensive colleagues hadn't sufficient support from the midfield quartet when Sligo committed men forward.

There was an early warning sign when centre-half Gavin Peers hooked the ball over the Drogheda crossbar in the very first minute.

However, the home side were unfortunate when Paul Crowley – a surprise inclusion as he was expected to miss the game through injury – advanced into the box but just failed to take Darren Meenan's clever flick in his stride.

No matter, for Drogheda were ahead from their next attack in the 14th minute. Tenacious defending by Eric McGill near the touchline enticed Iarflaith Davoren into an illadvised lunge, resulting in the first free kick of the contest.

And when McGill angled the ball in towards the six-yard area from half-way, Glen Fitzpatrick rose with his back to goal and looped a header over keeper Richard Brush and into the net.

They say teams are most vulnerable when they've just scored, and that proved to be the case here after a Meenan foul 40 yards from goal resulted in a free kick to the visitors.

Richie Ryan delivered a teasing ball into the box which the defence failed to deal with and Peers connected with a downward header which bounced over the hopelessly stranded Skinner.

Stunned at conceding such a soft goal, the Boynesiders presented another gift to their opponents almost immediately when Alan Keane's cross was allowed drop at the feet of Eoin Doyle, but Skinner stood up to the winger and blocked his shot from pointblank range with his hand.

Drogheda momentarily threatened when John Flood just failed to get his head to an inswinging Joe Kendrick free, but they had an escape at the other end as Padraig Amond and Doyle combined to put John Russell clear in the box and his attempted chip bounced off the bar.

The hosts almost restored their lead on 34 minutes when Kendrick played a quick corner with Ryan Brennan and crossed deep for Daly whose powerful header just missed the angle of crossbar and post.

Peter McMahon had a shot blocked in the crowded Sligo box seconds later, but then a quick counter-attack by the Bit O'Red yielded the lead goal.

The home side were caught asleep as Gary McCabe's long delivery out of defence picked out Amond who was allowed a clear run on goal. Skinner advanced from his goal to narrow the angle, but the Sligo forward won the resulting tussle for possession and scrambled the ball over the line as Skinner was still picking himself up.

Doyle and Amond both had chances to extend Sligo's lead just before the break, but instead of trailing 3-1 Drogheda found themselves back on level terms just after the restart. Local lad

Ronan McEnteggart, a half-time replacement for Meenan, was only on the field six minutes when his skipper Alan McNally sent in a cross from the right and the youngster rose majestically between two Sligo defenders to plant an unstoppable header past Brush.

For the next 10 minutes it seemed that Drogheda had the momentum. Fitzpatrick's audacious attempted chip from the centre circle dropped into Anneville Crescent, but at least he had the courage to have a go after spotting Brush off his line.

The keeper had to stretch to clutch a dangerous-looking cross-shot from Brennan, and Daly headed wide from a Kendrick free. Sandwiched in between, though, was a wellstruck 30-yard effort from Sligo's Doyle which was pushed onto the box by Skinner.

The visitors went on to boss the last quarter as Drogheda seemed to run out of steam. Crowley would normally be snapping at opponents' heels for the full 90 minutes but seemed to be hampered by his recent injury, while McEnteggart was struggling too after picking up a knock and McMahon simply disappeared out of the game, having had an influential first half.

As a result, Drogheda found themselves defending deeper by the minute. Amond had a goal ruled out for offside and Ryan tested Skinner with a free kick, before substitute Conor O'Grady missed the target from 12 yards following a mis-cued clearance by McEnteggart.

Brush had to save at the feet of John Flood in the 77th minute, but the Bit O'Red were in almost total control and O'Grady missed a sitter soon after, heading over from three yards after Jim Laughlin had nodded the ball into his path.

It's no fluke, though, that Sligo are the Premier Division's top scorers and their hunger for more than just a point yielded the winner on 83 minutes.

Peers, the game's outstanding player dribbled at pace from the centre circle towards the Drogheda penalty area before teeing up Amond whose low shot took a slight deflection en route to the net.

It was the former Shamrock Rovers striker's sixth goal against Drogheda this season.

Derek Kierans – younger brother of director of football Darius – and Jamie Duffy made late substitute appearances for the home side, but they never looked likely to get back on level terms.

Still, Drogheda have taken 10 points from seven games under Darius and a similar ratio from their remaining 14 matches may well be enough to see them overhaul Galway and secure a home draw in the relegation play-offs. DROGHEDA'S old defensive deficiencies returned to haunt them at Hunky Dorys Park last Friday as Sligo took their tally against the Boynesiders this season to 11 goals.

A few tactical tweaks since Darius Kierans took charge had brought a significant improvement in the Drogs' goals against record, after they conceded three or more on seven occasions under Alan Mathews.

Indeed, this was the first time under Kierans that Drogheda had leaked three in one game, but a few more inept displays such as this would be a severe blow to the claret and blues' hopes of avoiding the relegation play-offs or worse.

In fairness, the back four themselves were relatively solid over the 90 minutes, despite the presence in their ranks of Eric McGill and Michael Daly who normally play further up the pitch.

However, goalkeeper Paul Skinner had a night he would rather forget, while he and his defensive colleagues hadn't sufficient support from the midfield quartet when Sligo committed men forward.

There was an early warning sign when centre-half Gavin Peers hooked the ball over the Drogheda crossbar in the very first minute.

However, the home side were unfortunate when Paul Crowley – a surprise inclusion as he was expected to miss the game through injury – advanced into the box but just failed to take Darren Meenan's clever flick in his stride.

No matter, for Drogheda were ahead from their next attack in the 14th minute. Tenacious defending by Eric McGill near the touchline enticed Iarflaith Davoren into an illadvised lunge, resulting in the first free kick of the contest.

And when McGill angled the ball in towards the six-yard area from half-way, Glen Fitzpatrick rose with his back to goal and looped a header over keeper Richard Brush and into the net.

They say teams are most vulnerable when they've just scored, and that proved to be the case here after a Meenan foul 40 yards from goal resulted in a free kick to the visitors.

Richie Ryan delivered a teasing ball into the box which the defence failed to deal with and Peers connected with a downward header which bounced over the hopelessly stranded Skinner.

Stunned at conceding such a soft goal, the Boynesiders presented another gift to their opponents almost immediately when Alan Keane's cross was allowed drop at the feet of Eoin Doyle, but Skinner stood up to the winger and blocked his shot from pointblank range with his hand.

Drogheda momentarily threatened when John Flood just failed to get his head to an inswinging Joe Kendrick free, but they had an escape at the other end as Padraig Amond and Doyle combined to put John Russell clear in the box and his attempted chip bounced off the bar.

The hosts almost restored their lead on 34 minutes when Kendrick played a quick corner with Ryan Brennan and crossed deep for Daly whose powerful header just missed the angle of crossbar and post.

Peter McMahon had a shot blocked in the crowded Sligo box seconds later, but then a quick counter-attack by the Bit O'Red yielded the lead goal.

The home side were caught asleep as Gary McCabe's long delivery out of defence picked out Amond who was allowed a clear run on goal. Skinner advanced from his goal to narrow the angle, but the Sligo forward won the resulting tussle for possession and scrambled the ball over the line as Skinner was still picking himself up.

Doyle and Amond both had chances to extend Sligo's lead just before the break, but instead of trailing 3-1 Drogheda found themselves back on level terms just after the restart. Local lad

Ronan McEnteggart, a half-time replacement for Meenan, was only on the field six minutes when his skipper Alan McNally sent in a cross from the right and the youngster rose majestically between two Sligo defenders to plant an unstoppable header past Brush.

For the next 10 minutes it seemed that Drogheda had the momentum. Fitzpatrick's audacious attempted chip from the centre circle dropped into Anneville Crescent, but at least he had the courage to have a go after spotting Brush off his line.

The keeper had to stretch to clutch a dangerous-looking cross-shot from Brennan, and Daly headed wide from a Kendrick free. Sandwiched in between, though, was a wellstruck 30-yard effort from Sligo's Doyle which was pushed onto the box by Skinner.

The visitors went on to boss the last quarter as Drogheda seemed to run out of steam. Crowley would normally be snapping at opponents' heels for the full 90 minutes but seemed to be hampered by his recent injury, while McEnteggart was struggling too after picking up a knock and McMahon simply disappeared out of the game, having had an influential first half.

As a result, Drogheda found themselves defending deeper by the minute. Amond had a goal ruled out for offside and Ryan tested Skinner with a free kick, before substitute Conor O'Grady missed the target from 12 yards following a mis-cued clearance by McEnteggart.

Brush had to save at the feet of John Flood in the 77th minute, but the Bit O'Red were in almost total control and O'Grady missed a sitter soon after, heading over from three yards after Jim Laughlin had nodded the ball into his path.

It's no fluke, though, that Sligo are the Premier Division's top scorers and their hunger for more than just a point yielded the winner on 83 minutes.

Peers, the game's outstanding player dribbled at pace from the centre circle towards the Drogheda penalty area before teeing up Amond whose low shot took a slight deflection en route to the net.

It was the former Shamrock Rovers striker's sixth goal against Drogheda this season.

Derek Kierans – younger brother of director of football Darius – and Jamie Duffy made late substitute appearances for the home side, but they never looked likely to get back on level terms.

Still, Drogheda have taken 10 points from seven games under Darius and a similar ratio from their remaining 14 matches may well be enough to see them overhaul Galway and secure a home draw in the relegation play-offs.

- Marcus CAVAROLI